Improvement in flumes for establishing permanent channels in rivers



M. a. ADAMS.

FLIINIESFO R ESTABLISHING PERMANENT CHANNELS IN RIVERS, &c.

N0- 1-95,ZO1. Patented Sept. 18. 1877.

I n/ve i030 1.

liu'lmu 11W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANNING J. ADAMS, OF ST. PAUL, MIN N ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TONATIONAL TUBE WORKS COMPANY, OF MOKEESPORT, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUMES FOR ESTABLISHING PERMANENT CHANNELS IN RIVERS, &c-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,201, datedSeptember 18, 1877; application filed August 30, 1577.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I,,MANNING J. ADAMS, of the city of St. Paul, county ofRamsey, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful inventionfor Establishing a Permanent Channel in Rivers, Canals, Sloughs, andStill Waters, which invention is fully set forth in the followingspecification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to establish permanent channels in rivers,sloughs, canals, and still waters by laying in the most suitable placein the same, from head to mouth, one continuous line of flumes, havingvalved openings.

in the drawings, A are the flumes. B are the perforations on the underside of the flu mes A; O,thevalves; and Eis the gate. The flumes aremade of lap-welded iron of the necessarythickness, diameter, and length.The holes are placed promiscuously or parallel, and holes are made atthe joints or couplings, the flanges of which are secured together bybolts. A gate,

E, is placed at the end of the line offlumes, slidin g in suitable ways.The valves 0 are made of thesanie material, and of a length and widthsuflicient to cover the rows of perforations B, and are provided withholes 0, corresponding to those in the flume. They are retained inplace, with freedom to slide lengthwise, by means of slots and bolts, asshown. They are also provided with a transverse brace or rib, a, on oneend, by which they may be operated. The lever-valves are madeof buoyantmaterial, each being provided with a flange and hinge, fastened to acasting, which fits the hole in the joint. The gate at the end is madeof a casting, with guideways of wrought-iron, and is opened and shut bya draw-bolt. This gate is opened to drive away sand or mud at the end ofthe tube.

Operation: The flumes are laid in the most suitable place on the bed ofthe stream in one continuous line, and are joined by couplings orflanges with bolts, the perforated part of the flumes resting on the bedof the stream. A dam or pump is placed at the head, forcing the waterthrough the flumes, &c., securing the required pressure. The flumes areall closed when not in operation. When it becomes necessary to operate,the sliding valves are opened by inserting a lever through thelever-valve in the joint, which reaches the brace or rib on theslide-valve, and, by pressing against said rib, opens or shuts thevalves, the slots and bolts keeping them in their place. When the valvesare opened the water rushes out from the flume, abrading the sand or mudaround and about the same, driving it away from its neighborhood,cutting as low as is required, and securing the lowest and cleanestplace for the waters to traverse. The sand or mud is driven into sloughsand open places, forming embankments, and necessarily confining thewatersin theneighborhood of the flumes, thereby creating a permanentchannel.

I claim as my invention- 1. The above-described flumes for establishingpermanent channels in rivers, sloughs, canals, and still waters, thesame being provided with ports or valves for the forcible discharge ofwater upon the bottom, and a gate at the lower end, and mechanism forapplying pressure at the upper end, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with the above-described flumes, of the lever-valves,as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination,with the above-described flumes, of the slidingvalves, as set forth.

- MANNING J. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

WM. (JAJJY, CHRISTIAN SIEGFRIED.

